How a Wakefield pub is keeping its famous 'Sunday Sesh' music going during lockdown, and drawing new fans in the process

For loyal punters at one Wakefield pub, Sunday afternoons always meant music.
Popular guitarists and singer Matt Hodges has been the voice of the Sunday Sesh for five years.Popular guitarists and singer Matt Hodges has been the voice of the Sunday Sesh for five years.
Popular guitarists and singer Matt Hodges has been the voice of the Sunday Sesh for five years.

But since lockdown started, customers of The Black Horse have been unable to see country guitarist and singer Matt Hodges play live at the Westgate watering hole.

Matt's been the voice of The Black Horse's Sunday Sesh since 2015 and his acoustic talent became as much a part of the pub's furniture as the pumps and the pints.

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But to keep up the tradition during coronavirus, the 28 year old has been performing sets from his own home on weekends, which The Black Horse have streamed live on their Facebook page.

The pub sadly lies empty during the current lockdown.The pub sadly lies empty during the current lockdown.
The pub sadly lies empty during the current lockdown.

And while at the pub Matt might have performed to around eight dozen people, an incredible 8,000 tuned in to see him play last Sunday.

Matt, from Crigglestone, said: " I've been doing the Sunday Sesh at the Black Horse for about five years and it’s built up and built up.

"In the summer I’m often playing in the beer garden, so it’s a bit sad at the moment that when there’s good weather we're missing that.

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"But it is a great community and on Facebook anyone can join and watch.

Landlord Tony Padgett (left) said he'd been heartened by the response to the online sessions.Landlord Tony Padgett (left) said he'd been heartened by the response to the online sessions.
Landlord Tony Padgett (left) said he'd been heartened by the response to the online sessions.

"I think it’s a bit of normality for people.

"The world’s just come to halt and people are still adapting to it.

"If people normally come down to the Sunday Sesh then it probably helps them to tune in and have that continuity in their lives."

The pub's landlord, Tony Padgett said the response to the online sessions had been "phenomenal" and had helped keep a tight-knit community together.

"It's been absolutely brilliant," he said.

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"It's been great way for people to keep in touch. Everybody refers to the Black Horse family and that's exactly what it feels like.

"I think it is a bit of normality for their lives.

"Some people commented that it was the highlight of their week and for us to read that makes us very emotional."

Matt's talent has secured him gigs in the United States and he was even once flown to Italy to play at a wedding, so highly is he rated.

But the pandemic has stunted his usual routine of around four local gigs a week.

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Although currently furloughed from his full-time job as a car salesman, he says he's using the time constructively, updating the social media he uses to promote his music and spending more time with his partner.

There is however, a catch to the success of his Sunday sessions, as the set is getting longer by the week.

Having played for five hours straight last weekend, he has now promised to do a six hour session this Sunday.

I’ve played out in Nashville in Tennessee, where I played four hour sets ," Matt added.

"So five was OK because it felt quite similar to that.

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"Doing six will be the longest I've done so we'll see how it goes.

"It’s been amazing to read some of the messages we’ve had. Some people said they’d had anxiety and depression and listening to the music was helping them through.

"To hear that positivity has been brilliant."

The pub may be shut and the punters now have to serve themselves from home, but the Sunday Sesh is alive and well - and it's reaching more fans by the week.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

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